London Is No Longer The Cocaine Capital Of Europe

Researchers tested drug concentrations in sewage.

London is the cocaine capital of Europe - but only during the week, new research suggests.

When use of the Class A substance on weekends is also taken into account the city has been overtaken for the first time in three years.

The findings emerged in a study of drug concentrations in sewage in dozens of European cities across 18 countries.

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The concentration of cocaine in the English capital is lower at the weekends (file picture)

Tests conducted in March showed the average weekday concentration of cocaine in London’s wastewater was 949.3mg per 1,000 people per day.

This was the highest level recorded across the research and a jump compared to the previous year, when it stood at 730.4mg per 1,000 people per day.

However, the concentration of cocaine in the English capital was lower at weekends, at 840.5mg per 1,000 people per day.

This was a fall compared to 2015 - and means London was out of tune compared to the continent as a whole, with levels rising sharply at weekends in most cities.

Weekend averages cover Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, while weekday levels related to the other days of the week.

Across the whole week the average daily concentration for cocaine in London’s sewer waters was 894.9mg per 1,000 people per day - which was the second highest behind Antwerp in Belgium (914.8mg per 1,000 people per day).

It is the first time since 2013 that the research has not shown London at the top of the chart overall for cocaine traces, the Press Association writes.